Earring with clamping member impelled by depressed spring



E. F. GRAY Jan. 8, 1957 EARRING WITH CLAMPING MEMBER IMPELLED BY DEPRESSED SPRING Filed May 19. 1955 FlG.-1-

ERNEST F. GRAY INVENTOR.

HIS ATTORNEY United States Patent- EARRING WITH CLAlVIPING NIEMBER IMPELLED BY DEPRESSED SPRING Ernest F. Gray, Los Angeles, Calif.

, Application May 19, 1955, Serial No. 509,522

4 Claims. 01. 63-14 It is an object of my invention to provide an earring finding which gives a light pressure on the earlobe so that it is easy to wear and easy to attach and remove. It is particularly an object of my invention to provide such a device which is simple and economical to manufacture and which in its preferred form comprises only two parts.

In essence, my invention contemplates a U-shaped member having a pair of substantially parallel arms. A clamping member is pivotally mounted adjacent the upper end of one of the arms. The clamping member is provided with a tongue which acts as a spring, extending rearwardly to bear against the pivot arm adjacent the pivotal mounting of the clamping member. The spring provides a gentle pressure which normally urges the clamping member toward the ear. a

It is a further object of my invention to provide such a clamping member which has a pair of convex curved spaced ear lobe engaging portions. Their curvature softens the grip on the ear lobe, while their separation permits pivotal movement of the clamping member to free the space between the arms for insertion and removal of the ear lobe.

My invention also comprises such other objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and which are inherently possessed by my invention.

WhileI have shown in the accompanying drawings .a preferred embodiment of my invention, it should be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my earring finding with the ornament shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the same;

Fig. '3 is a sectional .view of the same taken on line 3.3ofFig. 2;.

Fig. :4 is a front elevational view'of the same;

Fig. 5 is .a side elevational view of the'same, showing the clamping member pivoted rearwardly for insertion of the ear lobe; a

Fig, 6 .is a top plan view of the blank from which my clamping member is formed;

Fig 7 is a top elevational view of my earring finding with a portion of the tongue shown in dotted lines.

A preferred embodiment which has been selected to illustrate my invention comprises an earring finding having a substantially U-shaped body member 10 with a pair of substantially parallel arms 11 and 12. The arm 11 .is adapted to receive an ornament and may be referred to as. the ornament arm. The other arm 12 provides a pivotal mounting for the ear lobe clamping member and may thus be referred to as the pivot arm.

The upper end of the pivot arm 12 is provided with an enlarged portion 13, which is substantially rectangular in shape. The upper end of enlarged portion 13 is provided with a pair of outwardly directed oppositely disposed pivot pins 14 and 15, which define a horizontal axis of rotation. Between the pivot pins 14 and 15 there is provided a cut away portion 16, the bottom of which forms a ledge 17. The ledge 17 is slightly deformed or offset in a direction away from pivot arm 12 and toward ornament arm 11. This deformation may be accomplished by suitable metal forming techniques and may require slitting the enlarged portion 13 along the edges of the ledge 17.

An ear lobe clamping member 18 is formed from a blank and comprises the only other part necessary to complete my earring finding. The clamping member 18 is provided with a central portion 19 and a pair of oppositely disposed pivot tabs 20 and 21. The pivot tabs 20 and 21 are provided with apertures 22 and23 respectively, which are horizontally aligned when the tabs are bent downwardly at a right angle with regard to the adjacent central portion 19. A stop member 24 is formed integrally with the clamping member 18 and extends outwardly from central portion 19 in a different plane from the pivot tabs 20 and 21. Stop member 24 is likewise bent downwardly at substantially a right angle with respect to the central portion 19.

The opposite end of the clamping member 18 is convexly curved to provide a pair of spaced ear lobe engaging surfaces 25 and 26, which are spaced from each other by a slot 27. The slot 27 is at least slightly wider than the pivot arm 12 and is preferably suificientlywide so that it receives and holds a portion of the ear lobe between the surfaces 25 and 26 when the clamping member 18 engages the ear lobe. The clamping member 18 thus provides two spaced areas of engagement with the ear lobe, while the ear lobe presses slightly into the slot 27 to further prevent displacement of the clamping member 18.

The clamping member 18 is lanced to provide an elongated tongue spring 28, which has a narrow free end 29 adjacent the central portion 19 and a wider end 30 adjacent the end of slot 27. Parts of the clamping member 18 are cut away adjacent the edges of the tongue spring 28 so that the spring is free to flex independently of the clamping member 18. The spring 28 is deformed downwardly so that it extends roughly parallel to and beneath the central portion 19 of the clamping member 18.

When the clamping member 18 is mounted on the pivot arm 12, the pivot tabs 29 and 21 are bent so that the pivot pins 14 and 15 fit into apertures 22 and 23 to provide a pivotal mounting for clamping member 18. The stop member 24 is'bent downwardly so that its end contacts the back of enlarged portion 13 to limit the pivotal movement of clamping member 18.

The free end 29 of the tongue spring 28 rests on the top of ledge 17 adjacent and slightly beneath the pivot pins 14 and 15. The tongue spring 28 exerts pressure which normally tends to urge and maintain the clamping member in'such a position that the stop member 24 engages the back of enlarged portion 13. In such position, the central portion 19 of clamping member 18 and the portion forwardly therefrom extends substantially transversely across the open end of the U toward the ornament arm 11. The ear lobe engaging surfaces 25 and 26 extend downwardly therefrom adjacent and'substantially parallel to the ornament arm 11. v

In order to attach the body member 10 to the ear lobe, the user exerts downward pressure on the clamping member 18, causing it to pivot downwardly and rearwardly away from the ornament arm 11. This movement is resisted by the spring 28, the free end 29 of which pivots'but remains in engagement with the ledge 17.

Thee clampingnmember 18 maybeipivoted tea -position where the ear lobe engaging surfaces and 26 are substantially perpendicular to the pivot arm 12. The clamping'zmember ISFthenlstraddles pivot arm"'-12, with the eatlobe: engaging SuIf2CS' 25"a-l]d-'26 being'idisposedmn op positessides thereof and the pivot arm 12 being' di-spos ed within the slot-27 This permits substantially all 'of the space between the-arm's oithe' U-to' be 'avail'able for easv insertion-'andremoval of thezear lobet When pressure on the clamping' -member 18 is released, the tongue 'springzl8 urgesiit toward the orna' ment arm asuflicient' distance for'th'e rounded ear lobe eugagingzsurfaces -25-"and=26 to'- contact the ear lobe. The tongue spring 28 maintains a gentle pressure which urges the ear lobe engaging: surfaees' into- "engagement with the ear lobe in -the manner previously described.- The pressure and engagement thus provided are' suflicien't' to maintain *theearri'ngeiri I place while at the' same time beingtof suchinature -and so gentleas-tobe substantially unnoticeable' to the wearer.

I claim:

l. An curringfindingwomprising a-'U'-shaped member havingapair of oppositely disposed substantially parallel arms, one of said arms being adapted to receive an ornament, the. other of said-arms actingtas-a'pivot'arm, the

upper end of said pivot arm' having'ra pair of oppositelyprojeeting aligned pivot pins, theaxis'of said piv'ot pins defining a horizontal axis of rotation, the upper endof' said pivot arm having a ledge'disposed between said pivot pins, said ledge being'disposed beneathsaid horizontal axis of rotation, an ear lobe clamping member having at one end thereof apair of spaced aperture-d 'tabs, said tabs being pivotally mounted on-saidpivo't'pins; said clamping membernormally extending: substantiallytransversely fromsaidpivot arm toward said ornament arm across the open end of said U-sh'aped member, said clamping -member having'at the-opposite freeend thereof an-ea'r lobe arm, the free endof said tongue adapted up'on such movement to pivot on the portion-of said ledge toward said ornament arm, said tongue being compressed between said clamping member and pivot arm as said clamping memberis pivoted and movingtoa position substantially parallel to said-pivotarm, Withthefr'ee endofsaid tongue being moved towardsaidclamping member as' it pivots on said ledge, said tongue adapted up011rthe-release*of"' an earlobe clamping member having one 'end thereof pivotally mounted on the-upperend of sa'id' pivot' arm along (said horizontal axis of rotation, saidclamping member having at the opposite end thereof an ear lobe engaging portion, said clamping member normally extending substantially transversely from said pivot arm toward said ornament arm across the open end of said U-shaped member,"sa id clamping member having a re silient tongue extlendin'g' fromthe'e'ar lobe engaging por tion-of said clamping member to-said pivot arm, the-entire length of said tongue being disposed beneath said clamping member and normally extending substantially transversely across the open end of said U-shaped member, said tongue having a free end pivotally resting upon said ledge, said clamping member adapted to be pivoted around said horizontal axi's of rotation to move said ear lobe-engaging portion away fromsaid ornament arm to ward said pivot arm;thefreeendofsaid tongue adapted upon such movement to pivot on the portion of said ledge toward said ornament arm"; said 'toiigue'beirig compressed between-said clamping member and pivot arm as said clamping member is pivoted and moving to a position substantially parallel-to"said' pivot wrni; with the free end of said tongue being moved toward said clamping member as it pivots on said ledge, said tongue adapted upon the release of said clamping member to urge said clamping m'ember 'awa'y fr'oin said pivot back toward said ornament 'arm.-

3. Anearring fiiiding comprising a U-'sha"pet l member having a pair of oppositely-disposedsubstantially parallel arm's one of said 'arms being-adapted tdrec'eive an ornament; the "other of said arms" acting as'a *piv'ot' arm, an" ear lobe clamping ntember having 'one' end thereof 'pivotally mounted on the upper "endbfsaid pi'vofarrri; said clamping member normally extending 'substantiallytransversely from said pivot'armtoward'said'orname'ntarm across the open endof sai'dfU-sh'ap'ed member, said clamping memberhaving at-"the opposite end thereof an earlobe engaging- -porti'on','- said" clamping "member hav-' ing a resilienttongue 'extending from'said ear lobeen-' gaging ortion'to'said pivot'arm," the entire'le'n'gth of said tongue'being disposed beneath said clamping menn ber and normally extending 'subs t'antially transversely across the'ope'n end-of said"U-shaped memben'the-upper end of said pivot arm having a ledge'di'spo'sed' beneath" the' axis of pivotal movement of said clamping rnember, said tongue-having :a free 'end' "pivotally 1 resting upon said ledge, saidclamping:rnemberadapted'td bepivoted' to move'said'ear lobe"*enga'ging portion-away from" said" ornamentarm toward said pivot'arm, thefreeendof" said tongue adapted 'upon such movement to'pivot on the portion of said ledge toward said orna'nienFarm; said tongue' bein'g compressed between said clamping member andpivotarm as 'said' claniping meniber is piv-' oted and moving-to a position substantially parallel-to" said'pivot arm, with the free 'end of'said-tongue'bein'g moved-towardsaid clamping member-*as' it"*piv'ots'pn said ledge, saidtongue adapted upon the'release'of said" clamping member to urge"said"'clamping member'away from-said pivot arm back toward-said ornament arm."

4. An earring finding comprising a U shaped"member having a pair of oppositely disposed arms, one'of said arms being adapted to receive an'ornament,'tlie"otlier of saidarms acting-:asa pivot arm,"an'earlobe clamping member pivotally mounted adjacent the uppe'rend of said pivot'arm, saidclampingmembernormally extending 'substantially"transverselyfrom said pivot arm I toward 'said' ornament arm 'across the open endof said U-shaped member, said clamping member havingatthe free end-= thereof 'an ear lobe en'gaging"porti0n', said clamping member having a resilient*wngne extenaing from said earlobe engaging portion 'to' said pivotarm, said tongue-*beingfdisposed beneath said clampihg'mem ber and normally extending substantially transversely I across the openend of 'said' U-sha'pedmetnb'er, the u per; end or said pivot arm having "a ledge dis atis'ed beneath the axis of pivotal movement of said clamping member, said tongue having'a free endpi votally resting upon said ledge, said clamping'rnernber adapted'to'be pivoted": to move' said ear lobe 'en'ga ging' portionaway "fr o'rn 's'aid" ornament arm toward "said' 'pi'vot arm; "fre end' of said tongue adaptean es suchmar/smear 'to pivot on theportion of said ledge toward '"saiatrn'amenrans,"

said tongue being compressed between said clamping member and pivot arm as said clamping member is pivoted and moving to a position substantially parallel to said pivot arm, with the free end of said tongue being moved toward said clamping member as it pivots on said ledge, said tongue adapted upon the release of said clamping member to urge said clamping member away from said pivot arm back toward said ornament arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Fontan Feb. 23, 1892 Brush Sept. 11, 1934 Kennison Feb. 29, 1944 Ballou Jan. 29, 1952 Gray Nov. 16, 1954 Scharif Jan. 3, 1956 

